Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation asked the federal government Friday to provide a disaster declaration for New England fishermen and fishing communities.

"We are extremely concerned about the recent National Marine Fisheries Service report, which included troubling information regarding potential declines in ground fish stocks in both Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine," Sen. John Kerry said.

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The New England congressional delegation and New England governors over the past two years have pushed the federal government to issue a disaster declaration.

"We believe the evidence is now overwhelming in favor of such a declaration," Kerry added.

The numbers in the National Marine Fisheries report suggest the possibility of further difficulties for fishermen and fishing communities in Massachusetts, specifically small boat fishermen.

Sen. Scott Brown joined the members of the delegation in calling for disaster relief.

"The evidence is clear that the Massachusetts fisheries are facing a real and present disaster due to declining stocks and a hostile regulatory agency. Washington needs to act on the bipartisan demands for approval of the state's disaster declaration request. Massachusetts jobs are on the line and we don't have time to wait," Brown said Friday.

"It is our understanding that these declines are not related to over fishing and not due to the actions of our fishermen. We must take immediate action to provide relief to fishing communities and to improve fisheries science so that there will be fish to catch in the future," Kerry added.